Survey of consumption pattern, exposure and risk assessment of aflatoxins in different animal livers in Iran

Aflatoxins are a group of toxic and carcinogenic metabolites produced by fungal species that are found in a variety of foods. Due to the high consumption of liver in Iran and especially in Kermanshah province, in this study consumption patterns of liver types (Sheep, Cow, and Chicken), the aflatoxin levels of liver types (B1 and G1) and hazard indexes including estimated daily intake (EDI) and margin of exposure (MOE) were investigated. Results showed that males had the highest liver consumption (52.3%) than females with a marked tendency towards consuming sheep liver (80.7%). The results of HPLC analysis indicated that aflatoxin G1 was detected in all types of the liver. Also, the mean concentration of aflatoxin in samples taken from autumn to winter in cows, sheep and poultry liver was 1.823, 0.7605 and 0.446 μg/kg. The results of EDI shows that cow liver was 2.33 ng/kgbw/day and above the threshold and the MOE level for all three liver types showed a high risk of cancer with the chicken liver incurring the highest risk with MOE = 78.2. Therefore, it is required to adopt an effective strategy regarding community education, attention to food safety and liver consumption in Kermanshah city.